When your heart slips out of rhythm, everyday life gets harder than it should be. Climbing stairs, keeping up with family, or simply getting through the day without fatigue or shortness of breath can become a real challenge. For many people living with atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias, cardioversion offers a fast, effective treatment to restore a normal heartbeat and start feeling like yourself again.
At Valley Heart & Rhythm in Tarzana, CA, Dr. Menachem Wakslak is a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist with over a decade of subspecialty experience serving the San Fernando Valley. He is the kind of physician other doctors trust with their own families.
What Is Cardioversion?
Cardioversion is a procedure used to reset the heart’s electrical system when it is beating irregularly or too fast. It is most commonly used to treat atrial fibrillation (AFib), atrial flutter, and certain types of rapid heart rhythms. The goal is to restore a steady, coordinated heartbeat.
Cardioversion is one of several treatments available through Valley Heart & Rhythm’s electrophysiology and heart rhythm services. Depending on your diagnosis and health history, it may be recommended on its own or as part of a longer-term management plan.
Types of Cardioversion
Electrical Cardioversion
Electrical cardioversion is performed in a monitored medical setting. You receive a short-acting sedative to keep you comfortable, and a brief, controlled electrical shock is delivered through pads placed on your chest. The shock interrupts the abnormal rhythm and allows the heart to reset. The procedure takes only a few minutes, and most patients feel noticeably better soon after.
Chemical Cardioversion
In some cases, medications can restore a normal rhythm without an electrical shock. Dr. Wakslak will evaluate your specific situation and determine which approach offers the safest, most effective result.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Cardioversion may be appropriate if you have been diagnosed with AFib, atrial flutter, or another arrhythmia that has not resolved on its own or responded adequately to medication. It is often considered when:
-
Your irregular heartbeat began recently or has become persistent
-
Symptoms like fatigue, palpitations, or shortness of breath are affecting your daily life
-
Medications alone have not been enough to control your rhythm
Not everyone with an arrhythmia is a candidate. A thorough evaluation is always the starting point. Dr. Wakslak will review your full history and explain your options clearly and honestly.
What to Expect During the Procedure
Electrical cardioversion is typically an outpatient procedure, meaning you go home the same day. You will be asked to fast beforehand and will receive sedation, so you stay comfortable throughout. The shock itself is brief, and most patients don’t remember it. From start to finish, the process generally takes less than an hour.
Blood thinners are often prescribed ahead of time to reduce stroke risk. Dr. Wakslak and his team will walk you through everything you need to know before the procedure.
Recovery and What Comes Next
Recovery is usually straightforward. Because of the sedation, you will need a ride home and should plan to rest for the rest of the day. Most people return to their normal routine within 24 hours.
Cardioversion restores your rhythm but does not treat the underlying cause of your arrhythmia. Ongoing medication, lifestyle changes, or additional procedures, such as an AFib ablation, may be part of your long-term plan. Dr. Wakslak will work with you to build a strategy that fits your life, not just your diagnosis.
Why Choose Valley Heart & Rhythm for Cardioversion in Tarzana, CA?
Valley Heart & Rhythm was built on a simple but increasingly rare belief: medicine works better when a physician takes the time to know the person in front of them. When you come to Dr. Wakslak, he is not moving you through a system. He listens and gives you an honest picture of what is happening and your real choices.
The practice is intentionally small so that every patient is known by name. There are no rotating providers and no handoffs to people who do not know your story. Every recommendation comes from the same board-certified electrophysiologist who evaluated you from the start. That kind of continuity is hard to find, and it makes a meaningful difference when decisions involve your heart.
Get Back to a Normal Rhythm
An irregular heartbeat does not have to be something you manage around. Cardioversion may be the reset your heart needs, and at Valley Heart & Rhythm, that care comes with the expertise and personal attention it deserves.
Call Dr. Wakslak and his team at (818) 724-8000 to schedule a consultation. Valley Heart & Rhythm is located in Tarzana, CA, and serves patients throughout the San Fernando Valley.
